How To STOP Fearing Failure with Keira D'Amato - Former American Record Holder

Keira D'Amato quit running for a decade. Then, at 37, she broke the American Marathon Record. 🏃‍♀️💨

This week on The Runna Podcast, Anya Culling and Kayla Jeter sit down with the legendary Keira D'Amato to unpack what she calls her "anti-comeback" story.

From a career-ending injury in her 20s to becoming a realtor, a mother, and eventually the fastest woman in America - Keira’s path is anything but conventional.

We deep dive into the running training and mindset shifts that allowed her to find her peak performance later in life. Keira shares the deal she made with herself during her record-breaking race, why motherhood was her secret performance enhancer, and how she’s navigating recovery from hip surgery with her sights set on the 2028 Olympic Trials.

Whether you're looking for marathon training tips, running motivation, or a masterclass in sports psychology, Keira’s story proves there isn't just one path to the top of the mountain.

In this episode:
🏃‍♀️ The 10-Year Break: Why quitting for a decade led to an American Marathon Record.
🧠 The "Dangerous" Mindset: The mental shift required to become a record-breaking athlete.
👶 The Motherhood Boost: Why being a "Running Mum" unlocked elite marathon performance
💥 The Mile 16 Deal: The internal pact that saved the hardest marathon race of her life.

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📖 Check out Keira's book, ‘Don’t Call It a Comeback' - amzn.eu/d/04a3YTZn

⏱️ Timestamps:
0:00 – The "Anti-Comeback" & breaking the American Marathon Record
1:46 – How Keira D'Amato found running (and almost quit)
3:29 – Running mindset: "I just can’t win this race yet"
4:51 – Career-ending injury & the identity crisis of an athlete
5:50 – Finding life balance outside of pro running
7:58 – Why she took a 10-year break from the sport
9:37 – Postpartum running: Coming back as "Mum Keira"
12:49 – Why losing the "fear of failure" makes you dangerous
14:40 – Running injury recovery: Reframing the setback
15:55 – Why this isn't a "comeback" story
16:48 – Inside the 2:19 record: Her hardest marathon race ever
20:49 – Marathon training tips: There isn't just one path
27:07 – Running motivation: "Dream big, then triple it"
34:11 – The secret to success: Making marathon training fun!